This fascinating photo shows a rare black swan swimming off the coast of Eastbourne

Gillian Nicol said she took the photo of the elusive bird, which is rarely seen in the UK, at about 11am off the coast near Meads.

She told this newspaper: “While wondering how and why a black swan was paddling in the sea, we met a gentleman who is a member of the Sussex Ornithological Society, who confirmed that it was indeed a black swan.”